Safety and Efficacy of Medicinal Cannabis in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review.

Kurlyandchik, I; Tiralongo, E; Schloss, J

Safety and Efficacy of Medicinal Cannabis in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review.

Kurlyandchik, I Tiralongo, E Schloss, J

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Publisher:: Mary Ann Liebert
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2021, 27, (3), pp. 198-213
Issue Date:: 2021-03

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Kurlyandchik, I
dc.contributor.author	Tiralongo, E
dc.contributor.author	Schloss, J https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1643-6215
dc.date.accessioned	2021-11-30T04:28:25Z
dc.date.available	2021-11-30T04:28:25Z
dc.date.issued	2021-03
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2021, 27, (3), pp. 198-213
dc.identifier.issn	1075-5535
dc.identifier.issn	1557-7708
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151917
dc.description.abstract	Background: Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a complex condition that is characterized by various pain syndromes and fatigue, among other symptoms experienced. Current medical treatment of FMS involves both pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches, but often with ineffective outcomes. Medicinal cannabis has the potential to be a therapeutic option for patients with FMS due to the positive research in chronic pain management. In addition, it has been found to have fewer adverse effects compared with currently available pain medications. This literature review aims at answering whether medicinal cannabis is reported to be safe and effective for the treatment of pain and symptomology experienced by people with FMS. Methods: A systematic review was conducted on human trials utilizing cannabis in FMS. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, Scopus, and Cochrane CENTRAL were used for databases search, and mesh terms were used for cannabis and FMS. The search was limited to studies conducted from 2000 to 2020. Results: From the 181 citations identified, 10 studies were included after title, abstract, and full text screening occurred. A total of 1136 of patients (intervention n = 945, control n = 108, crossover n = 83) participated in the 10 studies ranging from 9 to 383 patients (mean = 114, median = 36). Of these studies, there were three randomized controlled trials, six observational studies, and one study that compared the management of chronic pain patients with FMS patients. Cannabis was found to be safe and well tolerated in FMS. The main adverse events identified included feeling “high,” dizziness/vertigo, dry mouth, cough, red eyes, and drowsiness with no serious adverse events reported. Conclusions: This literature review identified that medical cannabis may be beneficial for some people with FMS. Further studies are required to confirm its efficacy, what type of cannabis is the most effective form to use, and what assessment tools need to be utilized to understand how to quantify clinical outcomes.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Mary Ann Liebert
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1089/acm.2020.0331
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine
dc.subject.classification	Complementary & Alternative Medicine
dc.subject.mesh	Chronic Pain
dc.subject.mesh	Fibromyalgia
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Medical Marijuana
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Fibromyalgia
dc.subject.mesh	Chronic Pain
dc.subject.mesh	Medical Marijuana
dc.subject.mesh	Chronic Pain
dc.subject.mesh	Fibromyalgia
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Medical Marijuana
dc.title	Safety and Efficacy of Medicinal Cannabis in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	27
utslib.location.activity	United States
utslib.for	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2021-11-30T04:28:23Z
pubs.issue	3
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	27
utslib.citation.issue	3

Abstract:

Background: Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a complex condition that is characterized by various pain syndromes and fatigue, among other symptoms experienced. Current medical treatment of FMS involves both pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches, but often with ineffective outcomes. Medicinal cannabis has the potential to be a therapeutic option for patients with FMS due to the positive research in chronic pain management. In addition, it has been found to have fewer adverse effects compared with currently available pain medications. This literature review aims at answering whether medicinal cannabis is reported to be safe and effective for the treatment of pain and symptomology experienced by people with FMS. Methods: A systematic review was conducted on human trials utilizing cannabis in FMS. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, Scopus, and Cochrane CENTRAL were used for databases search, and mesh terms were used for cannabis and FMS. The search was limited to studies conducted from 2000 to 2020. Results: From the 181 citations identified, 10 studies were included after title, abstract, and full text screening occurred. A total of 1136 of patients (intervention n = 945, control n = 108, crossover n = 83) participated in the 10 studies ranging from 9 to 383 patients (mean = 114, median = 36). Of these studies, there were three randomized controlled trials, six observational studies, and one study that compared the management of chronic pain patients with FMS patients. Cannabis was found to be safe and well tolerated in FMS. The main adverse events identified included feeling “high,” dizziness/vertigo, dry mouth, cough, red eyes, and drowsiness with no serious adverse events reported. Conclusions: This literature review identified that medical cannabis may be beneficial for some people with FMS. Further studies are required to confirm its efficacy, what type of cannabis is the most effective form to use, and what assessment tools need to be utilized to understand how to quantify clinical outcomes.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151917